Wool-washing machine.



G. MALARD. WOOL WASHING MACHINE. APPLmATIoN Hun fm2, 1910.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

2 SHEBTS`BHEET 1.

G. MALARD.

WOOL WASHING MACHINE.

- APPLIUATION FILED Imm, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

@MQ MJL am 1HE NoRRls PETERS co., wAsmNaraN, D. c.

GEORGES MALARD, 0F TOURCOING, FRANCE.

WOOL-WASHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

Application filed February 2, 1910. Serial No. 541,643.

` To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, GEORGES MALARD, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Tourcoing, Nord, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-lashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

`This invention relates to machines for washing wool, and has particular reference to an apparatus which. automatically feeds and distributes the wash-water or liquid over a continuous belt-carried mass or sheet of wool which is to be washed or desuinted, such as is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 851,539 patented April 23, 1907.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is capable of a more perfect washing of the wool, and furthermore, to simplify and make less cumbersome the washing machine.

Vith the above and other objects, which will hereinafter appear, in view, my improved apparatus will now be fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine, partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken vertically through the tank B, and looking toward the front of the machine. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the front end of the machine, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the front end of the machine, showing one of its elements in section. r

With more particular reference to said drawings, 1 is an elongated receptacle which is transversely divided into a plurality of compartments or wash-tanks designated respectively as B, C, D, E and F, of which the front and rear tanks, namely B and F respectively, are substantially double the Acapacity of the remaining or intermediate tanks or compartments. Extending longitudinally of the receptacle 1, over the several wash-tanks, is an endless belt or conveyer 2, which is fed with the extract soaked wool through a chute 3,. as indicated by the arrow. Said belt or conveyer 2 is driven from the drive shaft W which is suitably geared to the adjacent supporting roll of said conveyer, and also drives, through an intermediate longitudinal shaft (not visible) Y and the bevel-gear y, the tensioning roll y. Squeezing rolls t and 5 suitably supported l l x l upon the frame and driven from main drive shaft W are provided to squeeze the mat or sheet of wool to a thinner and drier state upon leaving the machine.

Each of the wash-tanks B, C, D, E and F is illed with the wash liquid to the required height, and conduits S tapped into the lower parts of said wash tanks are adapted to conduct the fluid from each tank respectively to spray-pipes R, R, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R, each of which is so located transversely of the receptacle 1 that the liquid sprayed therefrom will fall first on the wool and then as a general rule into the same tank or compartment from which it was drawn.

Pumps of any suitable type, preferably reciprocating rotary pumps S, as indicated, are located in each conduit and are provided with crank-arms which are severally coupled to a common reciprocating member T having a pivoted connection with a pitman U which is in turn operatively connected to a drive-wheel V mounted on and driven by the main drive shaft W.

The spray-pipe R is located over an opening in the lchute 3 and delivers the rst cleansing liquid to the wool. The spray R is located practically midway of the com-v partment or tank B and delivers the second cleansing fluid supply. Spray-pipes R2, R3, R4 and R5 are respectively mounted adjacent the forward wall of the compartment from which the fluid supply was drawn. Spraypipe R delivers the last supply of liquid and is located midway over the last or rear compartment F, being connected to any suitable source of unused or supply fluid.

llhen a supply of wool is delivered from chute 3 and is carried toward the rear end of the machine upon conveyer 2 in a mat or sheet, the pumps S are actuated to supply the spray-pipes RHR5 with cleansing fluid. Itwill be evident that the supply from R and R', being the first to pass through the wool and reenter the compartment B, will be most completely saturated with the suinting extracts, while the liquids passing from the succeeding spray-pipes will contain regularly less quantities of the concentrated ex tracts. Thus the last tank F will be comparatively free from suint or will contain the least concentrated liquid, while each intermediate tank progressively toward tank B will contain a slightly more concentrated liquid.

liquid, whereas the desired progress of the liquids is toward the foremost tank B, or the one containing the more concentrated fluid, and, likewise, owing also to the irregularities of the wool mat, the `progress of the liquid may be too rapid, so that the latter will exceed the desired forward progress, and will empty the ,tank from which it is drawn too quickly. VGrraphically described, let the cone a, Z), c dependent from the conveyer 2 over con'ipartment E, represent the drippings caused by fluid delivered at a certain. speed upon the mat moving at a corresponding speed for a very short interval. This fluid drips through, first slowly, then with increasing volume, until the height of the cone representing the greatest volume ,of .drippings is reached, after which the volume .decreases again until the drippings cease. The length of the base of this cone depends on the density of the mat or anyof the other conditions above enumerated, and if the density be great, the liquid will be carried into the Zone of the rear adjacenttank before it leaves the mat, or, if the mat is loosely formed, the liquid will pass quickly through the mass and will drip into the tank in front of the one from which the liquid is drawn.

To avoid the continued backward progress lof the liquid, and confine the latter to the tank from which it was drawn, or to cause it to progress to the front tank or compartment, it is desirable to start the liquid more or less farther toward the front of the machine, as at a so that when the point a in the belt has traveled to a point indicated by c, the liquid delivered to the mat from the compartment E will have returned to the same con'ipartment or will have dripped into the preceding compartment, according to the position of the deflecting blade, and none of the liquid will have passed into the compartment F. Also, it may be desired to empty a tank entirely of its liquid, or deliver a large part of its contents into the forwardly adjacent tank. Again referring to the graphic illustration, if the spray is delivered at a fixed point far over the preced ing compartment, as at its middle point 0l, most of the drippings will be received by said preceding compartment instead of' the compartment from which the liquid was drawn, until all has been thus delivered.

The results thus theoretically deduced are practically accomplished as followsz-Pivotally suspended from suitable brackets 6 located above the spray-pipes Rg--RfV are swinging blades or deflectors I, I', I2 and I3 which are positioned to be swung under the spray-openings of the spray-pipes mentioned to deflect the sprays thereof from over their respective normal tanks to the mat above :the adjacent forward tank, or tank containing the more concentrated fluid. Automatic means, controlled by 'the level lof the fluid in the said forwardly Aadjacent tank swings each of said blades .or .deflectors to cause the latter to deliver the fluid to the mat fart-her toward the front Aof the apparatus, the distance varying according to the level in said forward tank. This automatic means is or lmay be a float, of suitable material as hollow .earthenware or glass floated in the preceding tank and having a flexible connection with its proper blade or deflector, to swing the latter yas the level. lof the' fluid drops. Said flexible connection may -be a wire, rope or similar article passed over a pulley and connected to both the float and the blade. Each float rises and falls with the level lof the fluid in its respective tank, and when theV fluid is at its normal level, said float snugly seats within a do1ne-like hood mounted upon the protective grating 8, the flexible connection passing through a centered aperture therein.

The connection between the blades and the floats is such that when the liquids are at their normal levels, the blades or deflectors will be permitted to hang vertically downward, lso that fluids delivered by the spraypipes will fall straightdown upon the material direct-ly below each pipe. However, when the level in any tank becomeslowered, the float therein descending, draws forwardly into inclined position the deflector located under the spray-pipe of the rearwardly adjacent tank, with the result that the liquid sprayed therefrom will be directed onto the material of the mat over the next preceding tank, and the distance which the liquid will be `deected depends on the inclination of the blade. Thus, if the liquid ill the various tanks or compartment-s maintains such a low degree of concentration that it does not affect the automatic draining ap- Jaratus hereinafter described to relieve the machine of a too concentrated solution, the deflecting blades will only be affected by the floats to maintain ,the level in the various tanks by returning the liquid from the rear tanks to the forward tanks, when the progress has been backward, but if the action of the automatic draining apparatus has been such as to rapidly lower the level in the tank or compartment B, then the float in said tank will descend to such a level as to swing the defiecting blade 1 far over the compartment B, so that the liquid in compartment C will be rapidly emptied into the compartment B by dripping through the mat before the latter reaches the compartment C. This last action, being rapid and continuous, will soon lower the level in the compartment C to such a degree as to effect the float L in the last named compartment to swing the deflecting blade I, whereby the liquid in compartment D will be passed to compartment C. The same operation will be undergone with regard to the remaining tanks, until the liquid has been uniformly refreshed throughout the apparatus. Thus it will be evident that the level of the liquid in a preceding tank may be restored by the automatic direction thereinto of liquid in the rearwardly adjacent tank, and this apparatus may be used in complete fulfilment of the theoretical action hereinbefore described. Willen it is desired to empty one or all of the tanks gradually by this action, it is merely necessary to lock vin fully deflected position the necessary blades, so that the liquid deflected therefrom will be thrown `far over the preceding tank and will consequently trickle into the latter before lthe moving mat passes thereover.

With the endless conveyer 2 and the flow of the liquids coperatively regulated, the operation of the apparatus thus far described will be fully apparent.

Automatic means for running off the concentrated liquid from the rst tank or compartment B is best shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 4, in which an auxiliary compartment A is cut off from compartment B by a partition 9. Above said compartment or in any other suitable position is suspended a receptacle 10 into which the liquid from the tank B finds its way, said liquid having first been sent through the spray-pipe R and the chute 8 (Fig. 1) to administer the iirst washing to the wool-mat in said chute. From said receptacle 10 the liquid issues through the pipe 11 into the main portion of compartment A, above the screen 8. A secondary chamber A is partitioned oif from the compartment A by a wall 12, which is spaced along its lower edge from the bottom of the compartment so that the liquid which falls into the main portion of compartment A will pass under said wall. and fill said secondary chamber A. Located in the compartment A, and mounted near the top thereof, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, is a channel 13, the latter forming an L across the secondary chamber A and along the partition 9, so that its short leg overhangs the compartment B. The outer' end of the channel 13 is provided with a spout 14, the latter being placed at a point above the bottom of the channel, so that the liquid must attain a certain level in the channel before it can pass therefrom through said spout 14. Said spout 14 is located over a drain 15, through which the liquid passes to the desired locality for treatment for its potash. The free end of the other or short leg of the channel 13 is provided with a gate-valve 16, by means of which communication with the compartment B is established and regulated. The liquid enters the channel 13 through an opening 17 in the wall or partition 9, and its course, is determined automatically by the position of the gatevalve 1G, above mentioned, said gate-valve being adjusted to open or closed position by the aerometer 18. Said aerometer 18 is connected to the, gate-valve 16 by an intermediately pivoted lever 19, and is controlled by the density of the liquid in the chamber A', so that when the said liquid becomes very much concentrated, the aerometer 18 will rise and close the gate-valve 16, more or less. Thus, when the liquid in the compartments A and A is of normal or working density or in a low state of concentration, the aerometer 18 will maintain such a position as to keep the gate-valve 1G open, and the liquid, passing through the opening 17, but not attaining the level of the spout 14, will return to the tank B through the gate-valve 1G, and thus be reused in the pipe R. 1f however, the liquid in chamber A becomes too concentrated to be used in the spray pipes, the aerometer 18 will rise and automatically close the gate-valve 16, whereby the liquid passing into the channel 13 will rise therein and subsequently pass off into the drain 15. 1f the rise of the liquid in the secondary chamber A is for any reason too rapid, it

will be passed through the opening 20 into i the chamber or compartment B, said opening 20 being placed on a higher level than the opening 17, and constituting a safety outlet.

The various compartments of the machine are cleaned through the man-holes 21,which are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and communication for the purpose of washing the sediments gathered in the compartments A and A therefrom into the compartment BV is afforded through the slide-gates 22. Said slide-gates 22 are disposed over openings connecting the compartments A and A with compartment B at the bottom of the machine, and may be raised or lowered by hand or automatically if desired. The preferred embodiment, as shown in the present structure, is to provide the connecting rods 23 with gear-teeth which mesh with gears carried by a shaft 24, so that the gates may be raised or lowered by means of a hand-wheel 25, also carried by said shaft. As the normal action of the machine is such as to maintain the liquid in the compartments A and A at ahigher level t-han in the compartment B, it is the practice to open the gates upon the wool at points from which it will 22 just as the machine 1s shut down, so that leach therethrough Vinto each succeeding `the liquid will be caused to rush through the openings thereof, `and in restoring the level of the liquid in compartment B, to carry the sediment therewith.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the U. S. is-

l. A wool washing' machine, comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks, means for continuously conveying wool. thereover, means for projecting the extracting `liquid in each tank on the wool at a suitable point,

means for abstracting the liquid from one terminal tank whereby the level in the last mentioned tank is lowered and means governed by the lowering of liquid in said last mentioned tank for directing the liquid from the next succeeding tank upon the wool at a point on the wool conveyer ahead of the rst named point whereby the last named liquid may leach through t-he wool into the preceding tank.

2. A wool washing machine, comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks, means for continuously conveying wool thereover, means for spraying ,the liquid in each tank on the wool at suitable points, means for automatically exhausting the liquid in one terminal tank as it becomes too highly concentrated, and means adjacent each spraying means and mounted to intercept and detlect the sprayed liquid controlled by the level of the liquid in each preceding tank for restoring the level of said liquid in each said preceding tank by detlecting liquid drawn for said spraying means from each succeeding tank.

3. A wool washing machine, comprising in combination, a plurality ot tanks, means for continuously conveying wool' thereover, a plu 1ality of spray-pipes for projecting liquid on the wool disposed over said tanks and each provided with means for drawing liquid from one of said tanks, means for automatically drawing o the highly concentrated. liquid from one terminal tank, and a deiect-ing element located adjacent each ot" said spray pipes for projecting the liquid tank, and means controlled by the level of the liquid in each said succeeding tank for operating said detlecting elements.

4. A wool washing means, comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks, means for continuously conveying wool thereover, a plurality ot' spray-pipes for projecting liquid on the wool, disposed over said tanks and each provided withmeans for drawing liquid from .one of said tanks, means for automatically drawing off the highly concen- ,t'ated liquid from one terminal tank, a

swinging, dellecting blade disposed adjacent each ot' said spray-pipes Jfor varying the point at which the liquid from each spraypipe will fall upon said wool, means for exhausting' the liquid from the terminal tank when said liquid becomes sufficiently concentrated, and means in each tank oper:- tively connected to the detlecting blade adjacent the spray-pipe of each succeeding tank, and controlled by the level of the liquid in said first mentioned tanks whereby said level will be restored from the liquid in said succeeding tanks.

5. A wool washing machine, lcomprising in combination, a plurality of tanks, means -for continuously conveying wool thereover.I

means for projecting the extracting liquid in each tank on the wool at a suitable point, means For abstracting the liquid from one terminal tank whereby the level in the last l'nentioned tank is lowered, and means govcrned by the lowering of the liquid in the last mentioned tank and located to be brought into the path Vof said extracting liquid at the point of projection thereof for directing the liquid from the succeeding tank upon the wool ahead ofthe first named point whereby the last named liquid may leach` through into the preceding tank.

ln testimony whereof I have set hereunto my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

Gaone Vaonnn, Cnr. Annone.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

